Coming to our nation's capital? We'd be happy to help you! We're here to help you book tours throughout Washington, D.C. – including the White House, the U.S. Capitol, the Supreme Court, and more.
All tours are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Many tours also require advanced notice due to high demand and space limitations. Please submit your request as soon as possible, especially if you're visiting during peak tourist season from March to October.
We'll make every effort to accommodate your requests, but we unfortunately can't guarantee availability due to high demand. However, you may be interested to know that there are many other public attractions throughout Washington, D.C. – including the various Smithsonian museums, monuments along the National Mall, and much more – that are entirely open to the public, require no reservation, and are free. Please visit my Washington, D.C. Tourism Information page for more information about those attractions and much more.To request a tour, please review the following information and fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
Important information about specific tours:
Thank you for contacting the Office of Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. regarding your upcoming trip to Washington D.C.
As of right now, many Washington, D.C. tour sites are still closed to visitors to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the Supreme Court, Engraving and Printing, and FBI Experience. The U.S. Capitol grounds are open 24/7 for visitors to walk around outside.
PLEASE NOTE: White House tourswill only be offered on Friday and Saturday mornings and are only able to be booked 3 months in advance. These tours are extremely competitive and fully booked through the end of July. The United States Capitol is currently accepting visitors in a phased re-opening. Due to capacity restrictions, our office will be submitting tour requests for constituents on a first come first serve basis. Although we will do everything we can to secure tickets for every individual, we appreciate your understanding that there are limited spaces available.
For public access to tour reservations, please visit https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
Other sites and activities around Washington, D.C. have fully reopened to the public. Below you will find links to visit the Library of Congress, Pentagon, Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, National Archives, and Smithsonian Museums/ National Zoo.
We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.
Capitol Tours
We are pleased to announce that on Monday, March 28, 2022, public tours of the Capitol resumed with a limited number of Member-led, staff-led tours, and school groups. Since March 2020, the U.S. Capitol, and the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) has been closed to tours. The decision to reinstate limited tours has been made in coordination with Congressional Leadership, the U.S. Capitol Police Board, the Attending Physician, Capitol Visitor Services, and the U.S. Capitol Police. We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we work together to resume public tours of the Capitol for the American people in a way that protects the health and safety of visitors and institutional staff alike.
When tours resumed on March 28, access has been facilitated using a phased approach. Throughout the first phase, tours to the Capitol will be monitored by Visitor Services so that modifications can be made if recommended by the Attending Physician. The current CDC community level (now green) may change depending on COVID-19 conditions. Attestation of a daily negative health screening inventory is recommended for all visitors. The screening form may be found by following this link: Coronavirus Health Screening Inventory.
Phase 1 – March 28, 2022
This initial reopening phase will allow a limited number of staff-led tours and school group tours to visit the Capitol.
Staff-led Tours
Staff-led tours will have a maximum of 15 guests per staff person. Reservations are required for all staff-led tours. Member offices must make reservations via the CVC reservations. You can request a tour by competing the TOUR REQUEST FORM below. Reservations for House side staff led tours are available Monday through Friday at the following times:
- 10:10 AM, 10:40 AM, 11:10 AM, 11:40 PM, 12:10 PM, 12:40 PM, 1:10 PM, 1:40PM
Entry will be via the Longworth Main Door (Independence avenue). Staff-led tours will be available Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM and must follow the approved tour route. Because of the limited number of tour reservations available, offices will be able to reserve no more than one tour per week. Our office will be reserving tours on a first come first serve basis. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.
School Group Tours
School group tour reservations will be available Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Because of the limited number of tour reservations available, offices are requested to reserve no more than one tour per week. We appreciate your understanding of these circumstances. You can request a tour by competing the TOUR REQUEST FORM below. Reservations are required for all school group tours. Reservations for House side school groups are available Monday through Friday at the following times:
- 10:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 12:30 PM, 1:00 PM, 1:30PM, 2:00 PM
- The CVC reservations system will begin accepting reservations on Thursday, March 24 at 9:00 AM
- During phase 1, we also ask that tour reservations be made for K through 12th grade school groups only.
- All tour group access will be through the Longworth House Office Building via the Longworth Main Door (Independence Avenue). Member office staff will meet groups upon arrival and are required to accompany the group through the entire visit, from entry to exit. Once through security, groups will be directed to the CVC to begin their guided tour, led by Visitor Services personnel.
Please note that school groups must obtain and wear a visitor badge for access to the CVC as well as the Capitol. Appropriate badges will be issued at the Longworth Main Door and visitors will process to Emancipation Hall for tour tickets.
- The Longworth Main Door entrance will be for tours only from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
- The Longworth Cafeteria will be open for the use of escorted tour groups, either before or after their scheduled tour time.
Official Business Visitors
All Official Business Visitors (OBVs) with appointments in any House Office building must enter via the Cannon NW Door or the Rayburn Horseshoe entrance.
House Gallery
The House gallery will remain closed to all visitors during phase 1.
CVC Gift Shop
The gift shop located in the CVC will be open in phase 1.
Phase 2: May 30, 2022 – Limited Reopening of the CVC
We are pleased to announce that Phase 2 of the resumption of Capitol tours will begin on Monday, May 30, 2022. Phase 2 features an extension of reserved tour times and the reopening of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) for tour access. The decision to move into Phase 2 was made in coordination with the Capitol Police Board, the Attending Physician, Visitor Services, and the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). Phased reopening will continue while the USCP recruit and train additional officers. Please be aware of the following important information.
Group Tours
- Beginning Monday, May 30, guide-led and staff-led tours will be available for an additional two hours, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
- Offices may begin making reservations for these extended hours beginning Wednesday, May 25. Please note that reservations may be made up to three months in advance. To schedule tours, Congressional staff are to use the CVC internal website: https://Members.visitthecapitol.gov or call (202) 593-1762. With limited ticket inventory available, please be courteous and cancel any reservation that will not be used so that others may have an opportunity to book.
- Public access to tour reservations: Beginning Wednesday, May 25, the public may reserve tours directly through the public CVC public website: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
CVC
- Beginning Monday, May 30, the CVC gift shops, and the CVC Capitol Cafeteria will reopen to tour guests. Please visit the CVC website for more information: https://www.visitthecapitol.gov/
We appreciate your continued patience and cooperation as we work collaboratively to resume public tours of the Capitol for residents of Sacramento County in a manner that protects the health and safety of visitors and staff alike.
Tour Request Form:
